Off-Mirvish's DEAD METAPHOR Begins 5/20 at Panasonic Theatre

The final show in the Off-Mirvish series is a killer comedy from one of the master playwrights working in English-speaking theatre today.

DEAD METAPHOR, written and directed by George F. Walker, has its Canadian-premiere engagement at Toronto's Panasonic Theatre May 20 - June 8, 2014. (Media performance is on Friday, May 23 at 7 PM).George F. Walker began writing plays when he saw a mimeographed poster tacked to a street pole in downtown Toronto. That was in 1970 and the rest, as they say, is history. The distinct "Walker style" might as well be copyrighted; it is that unique - a combination of raw emotion, razor-sharp wit, mordant humour and compassion for the underdog. From his early masterpieces such as Zastrozzi and Theatre of the Film Noir to his later work such as Nothing Sacred, Love and Anger and the Suburban Motel six-pack of plays, Walker's plays have been produced around the world. He has also been prolific on television, with The Newsroom, This Is Wonderland and Living In Your Car.

DEAD METAPHOR is about family, marriage and finding your way in the world. Set in the mess of life that is the present day, the story concerns Dean, a young sniper who has just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. But life isn't easy, even for a returning hero. He is struggling to find work; his family in disintegrating before him eyes; his wife is ready to divorce him for a second time. Dean is seemingly saved from all this by players on both ends of the political spectrum who want to use Dean for their own political gain. But Dean has other plans that surprise everyone.

Walker directs his own script and has assembled a cast of veteran and young actors, many of whom are part of the "Walker players"; meaning, they have performed in many of Walker's plays in the past and know how to handle his distinct style. The cast also happen to be a who's who of Canada's finer acting talent: Nancy Beatty, Michael Healy, Haley McGee, Eric Peterson, Noah Reid and Julie Stewart.

DEAD METAPHOR had its world premiere at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco in February 2013. The production was a popular and critical success. The San Francisco Chronicle called the play "smart and funny" and the San Francisco Examiner found it "dead serious but still seriously funny."